THE Southampton Echo described Saints' cup win last week as revenge for their "humiliating" fifth round defeat two seasons ago.
It told how: "David Connolly celebrated his first senior start for over two years with a double strike. Connolly - handed his first Saints start after three sub appearances - struck twice and loanee Mikhail Antonia added a third as Alan Pardew's men stormed into a 3-0 lead at League One rivals Bristol Rovers.
"The hosts staged a late fight back with goals from Darryl Duffy and a Jeff Hughes penalty but Saints held on for a 3-2 victory - avenging their humiliating fifth round loss at the same Memorial Stadium ground two seasons ago."
Another successful gamble on the night by Pardew was the introduction of teenager Antonio, who like Rovers' Mikkel Andersen, is on loan from Reading. Antonio now wants to extend his loan spell beyond January.
The Echo stated: "The teenager had an outstanding second half against Rovers. Antonio, 19, showed blistering pace, awareness and a cool head in making the second goal for Connolly and scoring the third himself - his first ever senior professional goal.
"The former Tooting & Mitcham player said: "It was great to get a win and make it to the next round of a very special competition.
"It also felt good to score my first goal for Southampton. I'm over the moon and very happy. Every time I've come on I've affected the game in some way and I can see the manager likes me. I'm here till January and will be happy to stay longer if the manager wants me to stay."
I think it was rather harsh, but the headline in the Milton Keynes Citizen described MK's 2-1 home win over Rovers as "Dons move third after easy win."
It took a cruel penalty for MK to break the deadlock when Steve Elliott was adjudged to have pushed Karl Robinson as the ball came in at a corner kick. Predictably Robinson was in no doubt that referee Danny McDermid got the decision spot on.
He told the Citizen: "We had a good view and we saw him get across the full back and Mathias jumped a bit early, but he got a nudge on the back.
"But to be honest with you we should have had one against Southampton last week and these things probably even themselves out."
The Citizen's report did admit that "it was a match in which Dons struggled to deliver the sort of fluid football that they have become so widely renowned for during the last couple of seasons. They had to work hard for the three points against a Rovers side which set up to frustrate, but ended up having the better of the chances.
"They twice struck the bar as Dons failed to find their feet. Possession wasn't the problem, it was using it more effectively and with more pace and aggression that was.
"Fortunately they were given a helping hand. Or perhaps more accurately, two, as Stuart Elliott shoved Mathias Doumbe to the deck in the box.
"Leven stepped up to the plate and there was no doubt about the outcome.
The shackles were finally released after that and Dons played with much more freedom, with Puncheon rounding off a sweeping move with a superb 25-yard drive.
"There was still time for a brief comeback as Chris Lines headed home from a corner. It caused a furious reaction from Ince who threw his water bottle at an advertising board with all the aggression of an angry javelin thrower. "
The Citizen added that the first half was a true stalemate as Dons struggled to find their way against a Rovers team set up in a defensive 4-5-1 system.
"Despite their caution, the Pirates did create the first and only real opening of the first half when Elliott looped a header onto the crossbar from a Stuart Campbell corner.
Rovers seemed encouraged from the even first half and started the second with a little more confidence.
They cut the hosts apart early on with former Dons winger Mark Wright finding Williams at the back post, but he couldn't beat Willy Gueret with his shot.
Then a minute later the lively Wright turned Aaron Wilbraham inside out before delivering a superb cross for Jo Kuffour that the striker did well to loop goalwards with his head and over Gueret, but onto the crossbar.
Then with 20 minutes to go Dons were gifted an opening when, from Puncheon's cross, Elliott pushed Doumbe and referee Danny McDermid pointed to the spot, with Leven easily sending Anderson the wrong way for the lead.
"The Dons got a second moments from time as Leven played a great one-two with Stephen Gleeson and then cut back for Puncheon who smashed home into the top corner. And with his right foot!
Rovers made things nervy late on though as three minutes into stoppage time substitute Lines headed home from Campbell's corner. But Dons managed to see the game out and claimed a vital three points.
Written by Dennis Payter.
